Water boiler and heater



Dec. 5, 1950 H. E. WOOLERY WATER BOILER AND HEATER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 5, 1945 3mm Homce E. Women Dec. 5, 1950 E, WQQLERY 2,532,527

WATER BOILER AND HEATER Filed April 5, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 gwuvwto n HORACE E. Woou-wr 2M @WrW Dec. 5, 1950 H. E. WOOLERY 2,532,527

WATER BOILER AND HEATER Filed April 5, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet. 4

I grvucvvbo'b Home 7:. WOOLE'RY Patented Dec. 5, 1950 WATER BOILER AND HEATER Horace E. Woolery, St. Paul, Minn.; Myra Lillian Woolery, executrix of said Horace E. Woclery, deceased, assignor to Woolery Machine Company, Minneapolis, Minn, a corporation of Minnesota Application April 5, 1945, Serial No. 586,728

9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in water boilers or heaters and the primary object of the invention is to provide a boiler in which the maximum heating efficiency may be obtained from the heat source, and directed in heat exchanging relation with the water. Another object is to provide a boiler which is very compact, simple, efiicient and inexpensive to construct and operate. Another object is to provide a boiler in which the cold water is admitted at the coolest point and the hot water taken off from the hottest point and in which no narrow or confined areas are formed such as might burn or otherwise become damaged when exposed to heat and inadequately wiped or cooled by the water.

These and other more detailed and specific objects will be disclosed in the course of the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a vertical and diametrical section through a boiler constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is an end and sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross section along the line 3--3 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an end view partially broken away and in section.

Referring now more particularly and by reference characters to the drawing my improved The opposite end of the fire box 5 is open, as

indicated at l, and the heat and products of combustion from the burner are directed out endwise from this open end of the box. A refractory lining 8 is provided adjacent the burner for the usual purpose.

The fire box 5 is formed within an annular or cylindrical inner shell or casing 9 and spaced outwardly therefrom, and disposed coaxially therewith, is a larger outer casing or shell Ill. End plates H and i2 of proper circular shape connect these inner and outer casings 9 and it, being welded or otherwise secured thereto with watertight fit as indicated at It and there thus is formed about the fire box an annular water chamber indicated at [4. The burner 6 is supported in the fire box by a mounting plate l5 which is bolted around its margins at It to the end plate II and which, together with the burner, closes this end of the fire box.

A plurality of fire tubes are arranged in and through the water chamber l4 parallel with the axis thereof, and are positioned in inner and outer, spaced and coaxial rows. The tubes of the inner row are designated throughout at I! and the tubes of the outer row at l8. The tubes all are inserted and welded or otherwise secured in properly sized openings is in the end plates l I and i2, and the tubes open at opposite ends through these plates. The inner tubes ll communicate at their intake ends directly with the open end i of the fire box 5 so that they receive heat and smoke therefrom and carry such products to the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, through the inner portion of the water chamber i l. The opposite or exhaustends of the inner tubes ll are connected to the adjacent intake ends of the outer tubes ill by a smoke collar 20 which is semi-toroidal, or annular in shape, and semicircular in cross section as clearly shown in Fig. 1. is collar is clamped against the end plate H by means of a row of stud bolts iii anchored in the end plate at 22 and passing through the collar and equipped with nuts 23. The respective inner and outer edges of the smoke collar 20 are forced tightly against the end plate ll, inwardly and outwardly, respectively, of the tubes H and I8, anda chamber is thus formed which will carry and direct the flow of heat, gas and smoke from the tubes I! to the tubes, [8 wherein such products will be reversed in the direction of their flow. Gaskets (not shown) may be provided between the edges of the smoke collar 20 and the end plate H to prevent the escape of gases or smoke, if required or desired. The gases emerging to the right from the outer tubes are carried oil through the stack 24 of a smoke box 25, the construction of which will presently be described.

, Water is admitted to the chamber it at its bottom and radially outwardly of the outer fire tubes l8 by a connection or fitting 26 of an conventional form and hot water is taken ofi by a similar fitting 21 from the top of the chamber. Both of said fittings 26 and 2'! are, as shown, fastened to and through the outer casing H3 at or near the center thereof, lengthwise.

A water cap or water collar designated generally at 28 is arranged in spaced relation to the open end l of the fire box 5. This device comprises inner and outer, complementarily disked or curved plates 29 and 39 secured and tied rigidly together in spaced relation by a series or row of conventional stay bolts 3!. The centers of the plates 29 and 30 are spaced well out endwise from the fire box and the margins of the plates curve or turn inwardly toward the end plate l2 outwardly of the fire box. The extremities 32 places in the water chambers. of the water to the bottom of the chamber it other far hotter parts of the boiler. .is, of course, at its hottest at the top of the and scope of the appended claims.

of the plates are finally disposed in spaced relation and secured, as by welding as indicated at 33, to the end plate l2 between the inner and outer rows of fire tubes I1 and E8. The end plate [2, between said rows of tubes has a multiplicity of openings 34 which connect the water chamber I4 with the chamber formed in the interior of the water collar 28 through the annular space between the extremities of the plates 29 and 35!.

The centers of the plates 29 and 3%! have openings 35 connected by a sleeve 36 welded in place and this sleeve serves a two fold purpose. That is, it first supplements the stay bolts 3| in holding the plates together against the expansive force of the water, and it also provides a mode of access endwise into the fire box 5. A plug 31 is normally screwed into the sleeve 36 in order to prevent the escape of gases or smoke but may be removed when desired.

The smoke box 25 has a cylindrical lip or flange 38 which is secured over and around the outer casing ill by a clamp band 39 of well known form. The end of the box is then fitted circularly around the outer plate 30 of the water cap or collar 28 to which plate the circular margin 4c of the box is secured tightly by studs ll and nuts 32 as clearly shown.

In operation the water from the inlet fitting 26 completely fills the main, annular water chamber it as well as the chamber within the water cap or collar 28. As the burner 6 operates, then, the heat, gases and other products travel along the interior of the inner casing a, issue from the open end of the fire box and are directed first in one direction through the inner row of tubes H, and then in the other direction through the outer tubes l8, before finally discharging through the smcke box 25 and the stack connected thereto. It will thus be seen that the inner casing 9 and all of the tubes are heated and through heat exchange the water in the chamber will be efiiciently and effectively heated, with a minimum of heat loss.

Attention is called to the fact that the gases and other heated products issuing from the open end I of the fire box are caused to impinge the inner plate 29 of the water cap or collar 28 and are directed in wiping relation by the curvature thereof out and back into the tubes i! all as indicated by the arrows in Fig. l. I thus secure a very considerable heat transfer to the water in the water collar 28, and one which would otherwise be lost without this end water chamber.

One diificulty previously encountered with boilers of this general nature has been the burning of certain parts which by their construction were inadequately exposed to water. Such is not the case herein as it will be noted that there are no extremely narrow or crowded parts or The admission adjacent the outer row of tubes is where the gases are coolest causes the cool water to enter at the .coolest point of the system and prevents flashing or damage which might occur were the water to come directly into contact with the The water boiler where the delivery fitting 27 is located.

It is understood that suitable modifications may be made in the structure as disclosed, provided such modifications come within the spirit Having now therefore fully illustrated and described my invention, what I claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A water boiler of the character described comprising a fire box, means forming an annular water chamber about the fire box, inner and outer rows of fire tubes in the water chamber and adapted to carry heat and gases from the fire box, the said water chamber having end closures and one of said closures having openings between said inner and outer rows of tubes, and a water collar having an annular chamber connected to said openings to circulate water therethrough.

2, A water boiler of the character described, comprising a fire box having an open end, means forming a water chamber around the fire box, fire tubes extending through the water chamber in inner and outer rows and the adjacent ends of the inner row of tubes communicating with the corresponding end of the fire box, a smoke collar connecting the opposite ends of all the tubes, a water collar comprising complementary inner and outer plates secured together in spaced relation and disposed at the open end or" the fire box, said water collar being arranged to communicate the open end of the fire box with the corresponding ends of the inner row of fire tubes, means connecting the interior of the water chamber with the interior of said water collar, and a smoke box substantially enclosing the said water collar and communicating with the outer row of fire tubes.

3. A water heater of the character described, comprising in combination, afire box having an open end, inner and outer coaxial annular members, the inner member forming said fire box, end plates closing the space between said members and forming an annular water chamber, fire tubes disposed in spaced inner and outer rows in said water chamber and opening at their ends through said end plates, means for con ducting heat and gases from the fire box through said tubes and carrying it off therefrom, the end plate adjacent the open end of the fire box having a circular row of openings disposed between said inner and outer rows of fire tubes, and a water cap positioned at the open end of the fire box and connecting same to the inner row of fire tubes and said water cap having spaced inner and outer plates turned toward said end plate and secured around the row of openings therein.

4. A water heater of the character described, comprising in combination, inner and outer annular members arranged coaxially and said inner member forming a fire box having an open end, end plates closing the space between said members and forming an annular water chamber, fire tubes disposed in spaced inner and outer rows in said chamber and opening at their ends through said end plates, means for conducting heat and gases from the fire box through said tubes and carrying it off therefrom, the end plate adjacent the open end of the fire box having a circular row of openings disposed between said inner and outer rows of fire tubes, and a water cap positioned over the open end of the fire box and the inner row of fire tubes and having spaced inner and outer complementarily dished plates turned at their edges inwardly and secured to the end plate along inner and outer edges respectively of the row of openings therein,

5. A water heater of the character described, comprising in combination, a fire box having an open end, means forming an annular water chamber about the fire box and including end plates, fire tubes disposed in spaced inner and outer rows in said chamber and opening at their ends through said end plates, means for conducting heat and gases from the fire box through said tubes and carrying it ofi therefrom, the end plate adjacent the open end of the fire box having a circular row of openings disposed between said inner and outer rows of fire tubes, and a water cap positioned over the open end of the fire box and inner row of fire tubes, said water cap having spaced inner and outer complementarily dished plates turned at their edges inwardly and secured to the end plate along inner and outer edges respectively of the row of'openings therein, said plates having central openings and a sleeve connecting the openings to confine the water to the space between the plates but to allow access endwise into the open end of the fire box.

6. A boiler of the character described, comprising a horizontal fire box and a water chamber surrounding the fire box, inner and outer rows of fire tubes in the chamber and operatively arranged so that the heated products of cornbustion are received and carried in one direction from the fire box by the inner rowof tubes and reversed in direction and carried by the outer row of tubes back in an opposite direction, water inlet means at the bottom of the chamber admitting the water adjacent but radially outward of the outer row of tubes where the heat is least due to the travel distance of the heated products from the fire box, and water outlet means at the top of the chamber.

'7.-In a water boiler, coaxial cylindrical inner and outer casings, end plates secured to the ends of the casings and having inner and outer circular rows of openings, fire tubes secured between the end platesand in said openings, the end plates having center openings surrounding the inner casing, burner means at one end plate for directing heat into the inside casing and means over the other end plate for carrying away the products of combustion, a smoke collar removably mounted over the end plate adjacent said burner means and connecting the inner and outer rows of openings in said last mentioned end plate, the other end plate having a third row of openings between said fire tubes, a hollow water cap secured to that end plate over said third row of openings, and Water inlet and outlet means in the outer casing.

8. In a water boiler, coaxial cylindrical inner and outer casings, end plates secured to the ends of the casings and having inner and outer circular rows of openings, fire tubes secured between the end plates and in said openings, the end plates having center openings surrounding the inner casing, burner means at one end plate for directing heat into the inside casing and means over the other end plate for carrying away the products of combustion, a smoke collar removably mounted over the end plate adjacent said burner means and connecting the inner and outer rows of openings in said last mentioned end plate, the other end plate having a third row of openings between said fire tubes, a hollow water cap secured to that end plate over said third row of openings, water inlet and outlet means in the outer casing, the said water cap having a centrally located sleeve opening toward the inside casing, and means for normally closing the sleeve.

9. A water boiler of the character described, comprising a fire box having an open end, means forming a water chamber around the fire box, fire tubes extending through the water chamber in inner and outer rows, a smoke collar connect- 1 ing the ends of all of the fire tubes at those ends r Number REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of, this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Barrow et al. Aug. 24, 1880 Morgans Jan. 14, 1902 Williams May 21, 1929 Taylor Nov. 5, 1929 Welter Sept. 19, 1933 Schuman May 19, 1936 Sharp Sept. 29, 1936 Way et al Aug. 28, 1945 

